Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
19 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
98,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
formerly a state-owned radio and TV monopoly; now 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned TV stations; 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned radio stations (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.mv
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
85.24% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
13,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
137 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
745,000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
fruits, vegetables, nuts, other meats, papayas, bananas, tomatoes, maize, pulses, chillies/peppers (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$1.939 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$1.407 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$127.4 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$117.8 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$301.7 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$1.032 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$1.024 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$1.503 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$1.478 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$1.327 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$453.4 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$1.042 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$1.4 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$1.257 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$3.993 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$3.113 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
15.3892 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
15.3667 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
15.3804 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
15.3663 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
15.3684 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
15.3870 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
15.3908 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
15.3820 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
15.3813 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
15.3727 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
15.3866 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
15.3868 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
15.3892 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
fish, aircraft, refined petroleum, scrap iron, natural gas (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$3.375 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$3.156 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$3.158 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$3.326 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$3.591 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$3.751 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$1.791 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$3.997 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$5.096 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$4.88 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$5.413 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
74.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
17.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
51.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-75.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
35% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
73.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$26,183 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$6.975 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$13.819 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
31.3 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
29.3 (2019 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
23.3% (2019 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.8% (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, plastic products, aircraft, granite, ships (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$2.779 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$3.209 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$3.509 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$4.110 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$4.101 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$2.455 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$3.493 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$4.939 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$4.984 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$5.344 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-2.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.95% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.50% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
2.82% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
-0.13% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.22% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-1.37% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
0.54% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
2.33% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.93% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.40% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
270,300 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
5.40% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
61.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$6.917 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$7.653 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$8.321 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$9.059 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$11.255 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$6.741 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$9.834 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$11.194 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$11.723 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$12.325 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
3.87% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
6.38% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
7.07% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
8.57% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
6.92% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-32.91% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
37.51% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
13.83% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.94% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
5.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$16,723 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$17,875 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$18,770 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$19,768 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$23,077 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$13,425 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$19,053 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$22,881 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$24,786 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$3.3 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$3.5 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$3.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$4.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$4.9 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$563.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$467.3 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$587.3 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$712.2 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$753.5 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$984.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$805.8 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$832.094 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$590.523 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$673.886 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
19.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.56% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
5.42% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
5.02% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
4.30% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
4.02% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
4.28% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
9.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
20% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
16.1% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
8 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
821.397 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
432,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
25.867 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
50.886 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
1.908 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
1.908 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Environment: Environmental issues
rising sea levels; depletion of freshwater aquifers; inadequate sewage treatment; coral reef bleaching
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
19.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
12.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
67.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
30 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
268,194 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
300,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
5.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
42.00% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
211,500 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
20.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
298 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
644 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
8th tee, golf course, Villingi Island 5 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
2 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
3 15 N, 73 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
smallest Asian country; archipelago of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); strategic location along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
Geography: Irrigated land
0 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
19.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
12.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
67.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Asia
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise
Geography: Population distribution
about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago
Geography: Terrain
flat coral atolls, with white sandy beaches; sits atop the submarine volcanic Chagos-Laccadive Ridge
Government: Administrative divisions
21 administrative atolls ( atholhuthah , singular - atholhu ); Addu (Addu City), Ariatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Ari Atoll), Ariatholhu Uthuruburi (North Ari Atoll), Faadhippolhu, Felidhuatholhu (Felidhu Atoll), Fuvammulah, Hahdhunmathi, Huvadhuatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Huvadhu Atoll), Huvadhuatholhu Uthuruburi (North Huvadhu Atoll), Kolhumadulu, Maale (Male), Maaleatholhu (Male Atoll), Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Maalhosmadulu), Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi (North Maalhosmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Miladhunmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi (North Miladhunmadulu), Mulakatholhu (Mulaku Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Nilandhe Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Uthuruburi (North Nilandhe Atoll), Thiladhunmathee Dhekunuburi (South Thiladhunmathi), Thiladhunmathee Uthuruburi (North Thiladhunmathi)
Government: Capital: etymology
the name may come from the Sanskrit word mala , or "garland"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
4 10 N, 73 30 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Maldives
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
unknown
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote by its membership and the signature of the president of the republic; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on rights and freedoms and the terms of office of Parliament and of the president also requires a majority vote in a referendum
Government: Constitution: history
many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Maldives
Government: Country name: etymology
the origin of the name is obscure but may derive from the Sanskrit word maladvipa , meaning "garland of islands;" the local name, Dhivehi Raajje, means "land of the Dhivehi people" in the local language
Government: Country name: local long form
Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
Government: Country name: local short form
Dhivehi Raajje
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Chunnong SAEGER (since January 2026)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
Homepage - U.S. Embassy in Maldives
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
210 Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka; note - as of early November 2023, the US has no consular or diplomatic offices in Maldives; the US Mission to Maldives operates from US Embassy Colombo, Sri Lanka
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[94] (11) 243-7345
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[94] (11) 249-8500
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1100 H Street NW, Suite 250, Washington, D.C. 20005
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Abdul GHAFOOR Mohamed (since 15 June 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
WashingtonInfo@foreign.gov.mv The Embassy (mdvmission.gov.mv)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 516-5458
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by People's Majlis
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Mohamed MUIZZU (since 17 November 2023)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2023: Mohamed MUIZZU elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Mohamed MUIZZU (PNC) 46.1%, Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (MDP) 39.1%, Ilyas LABEEB (DEMS) 7.1%, other 7.7%; percent of vote in the second round - Mohamed MUIZZU 54%, Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH 46%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Mohamed MUIZZU (since 17 November 2023)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
9 September 2023, with runoff on 30 September 2023
Government: Flag
description: red with a large green rectangle in the center and a vertical white crescent moon centered on the rectangle meaning: red stands for those who have sacrificed their lives to defend the country, green for peace and prosperity, and the white crescent is a symbol of Islam
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission -- a 10-member body of selected senior government officials and the public -- and on confirmation by voting members of the People's Majlis; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
High Court; Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Drug Courts; Magistrate Courts (on each of the inhabited islands)
Government: Legal system
Islamic (sharia) legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
April 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
People's Majlis (Majlis)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
4/21/2024
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
93 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
People's National Congress (PNC) (66); Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) (12); Independents (11); Other (4)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
3.2%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; the anthem has seven verses, but only the first two are commonly used
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA
Government: National color(s)
red, green, white
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Government: National symbol(s)
coconut palm, yellowfin tuna
Government: Political parties
Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party or DRP Maldives Development Alliance or MDA Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP Maldives Third Way Democrats or MTD People's National Congress or PNC People's National Front Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887 and a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated Maldives' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. After political demonstrations in the capital Male in 2003, GAYOOM and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Political parties were legalized in 2005. In 2008, a constituent assembly -- termed the "Special Majlis" -- finalized a new constitution ratified by GAYOOM. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held later that year. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist whom the regime had jailed several years earlier. In 2012, after several weeks of street protests in response to a top judge's arrest, NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. A government-appointed Commission of National Inquiry concluded that there was no evidence of a coup, but NASHEED contended that police and military personnel forced him to resign. NASHEED, WAHEED, and Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom ran in the 2013 elections with YAMEEN ultimately winning the presidency after three rounds of voting. In 2018, YAMEEN lost his reelection bid to parliamentarian Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH. YAMEEN was arrested and jailed in 2022 on corruption charges. Maldives' fourth democratic election was held in September 2023. The winner, Male City Mayor Dr. Mohamed MUIZZU, campaigned on a platform of Maldivian sovereignty, vowing to remove Indian military personnel from the country. MUIZZU represents a joint Progressive Pary of Maldives and People's National Congress (PPM/PNC) coalition.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) is responsible for defending and safeguarding the Maldives' territorial integrity, economic exclusion zone, and people; it is also responsible for disaster relief, and if requested, assisting the Maldives Police Service in maintaining internal security and law and order; maritime security is its largest focus; the Indian Armed Forces have long been the MNDF's most important partner (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Air Corps, Fire and Rescue Service Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology (MOHST): Maldives Police Service (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 3-4,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Defense Force has a limited inventory consisting of mostly secondhand or donated equipment from suppliers such as Germany, India, Japan, Türkiye, and the UK (2025)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for voluntary service; no conscription (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
22.4% (male 44,321/female 42,626)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
71.5% (male 143,021/female 135,044)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
6.1% (2024 est.) (male 10,397/female 13,449)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
1.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
14.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
2.2% (2017)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
0% (2017)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
2.2% (2017)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
14.8% (2017 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
9.25% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
68.4% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
8.6 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
11.7 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
39.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
31.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
9.6% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
5.17% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
homogeneous mixture of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Australasian, and African resulting from historical changes in regional hegemony over marine trade routes
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.83 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
10% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
18.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
4.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
21.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
27.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
23.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
83.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
79.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
98.3% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
98.2% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
98.21% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
177,000 MALE (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
32 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
32.4 years
People and Society: Median age: male
31.3 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
23.2 years (2016/17 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Maldivian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-12.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
8.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
2.24 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
People and Society: Population
527,799 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.24% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
191,119
People and Society: Population: male
197,739
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
15 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
11 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.77 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
9.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
41.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
28% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.56 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
42.00% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
54 (2023 est.)
Transnational Issues: Trafficking in persons: tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Maldives remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/maldives/
Transportation: Airports
20 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
8Q
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 30, oil tanker 20, other 32
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
82 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Male
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
1
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
1 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
1
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.